By Karla Sullivan
Good balance builds confidence and fosters independence. Harvard Medical School suggests that working on balance can also bolster your abilities in any number of other sports or activities you love. And good balance can prevent falls, which is important for everyone, sports enthusiast or not. Simply walking around the block requires good balance — as do rising from a chair, going up and down stairs, and even turning to look behind you.
The body systems responsible for balance can be affected by gradual changes due to aging or side effects of medications. There is also a host of health problems that can lead to unsteadiness on your feet. Many stability problems, such as those caused by arthritis or mild vision problems, respond well to the exercises designed to improve balance. Milder balance impairments due to stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis often respond well, too.
Regardless of your condition, what can you do to improve your balance?
First, standing with feet together and closing your eyes gives you a feeling of how your balance is in general. If you sway and move to one side, you want to practice correcting this feeling and pulling the body back into position.
Standing on one leg for as long as possible, even closing your eyes as well will help improve your balance. When you feel wobbly, switch legs or bed the knee slightly.
Yoga is another way to help with stress and balance since you have to hold simple positions, which can give you more confidence.
However, if constantly light headed, dizzy and feeling that your balance is always off to some degree, speak to your health care provider before being involved in any activity. Other symptoms might include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and fear, anxiety, or panic. Symptoms may come and go over short time periods or last for a long time, and can lead to fatigue and depression.
According to the National Institute of Health experts, one out of four will see a doctor for balance disorders. Your doctor will be able to give you the best treatment plan for your disorder.
